Poole and environs: things to do with your six year old?

Anyone able to suggest any ents beyond the obvious/Googleable? 🙂

She is keen on Monkey World, I am largely ambivalent to this but could be persuaded…

TIA!

Tank museum, Swanage and ferry over to Sandbanks beach, Lulworth Cove and the jurassic coast walk, you can look up Mary Anning as your daughter will be getting that in school soon!

Depends on interest in it, but there’s a climbing wall above the Dolphin centre.

Brownsea island is lovely for a visit.

I’m not much help as I’m not very close to being a 6 year old any longer.

Pony ride in the New Forest?

Another vote for Brownsea Island to look for red squirels.

Trip to Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight.

Motor museum.

Get the ferry to brownsea island, a excellent adventure for a 6 year old. There is a good playground on the island too, although it’s national trust so might be a bit spendy.

Peppa pig world is down that way too if that appeals.

Farmer Palmers is good for kids that age.

Moors Valley Country Park too.

There are the Ringos at Snowtrax, they have a deal where you get 30min on the Ringos, a meal and access to their excellent park for about £15. You could easily spend most the day there.

You’re overthinking it,  just drop your kid off at the Poole pool

Does she like aeroplanes or double-decker buses?

The Bournemouth Aviation Museum is a bargain and more to the point you get to sit in the cockpits, pretend to fly, sit in the bus drivers seat and pretend to sell tickets, drive, dress up as a pilot / cabin crew, etc.  My kids spent hours there just wandering around doing stuff. Nice bunch of old boys run the place always happy to have a chat and explain things as well.

https://www.bamhurn.org/

Brownsea Island is a must

Poole itself is a bit meh but the Isle of Purbeck is one of my favourite places in the UK and luckily my parents live there so we go a lot. Only problem is it gets hellish busy in the school holidays – especially Studland Beach

My kids always loved the ‘broken castle’ especially when they were running the teddybear zip wire…

Usually had some kind of medieval dressing up and archery etc as well during the holidays

Bramble bush bay, just by the studland end of the chain ferry, but on the harbour side, is our fave beach. Never to busy, shallow sheltered with some shade too.

Great stuff, thanks everyone!

@nealc   Shhhhhh!

Noddy train at Hengisbury Head and then ferry to Mudeford quay for ice cream.

I now feel a bit guilty that my kids have never been to most of the attractions listed above.

Monkey World, especially if she wants to go there.

Local (ish) here. In addition to the above.

My lad loved a walk around Upton House and Country Park when he was that age. Pay for parking (and ice cream) only.

A wonder around Poole Park feed the ducks / swans.

Moors Valley park not a million miles away.

Monkey world was better than I expected though the kids liked it more. Tank museum is really good but 6 is on the young side for it.

Thanks everyone. We ended up going to Farmer Palmer’s which was nice enough but maybe we’ve been spoilt by the farm park in Matlock up near us, but a decent day nevertheless. Then yesterday into Swanage via Corfe Castle and a walk up to Durlston Castle along the coastal path, very pleasant. Drove back via chain ferry and an hour on Sandbanks then fish and chips at the Quay, finishing up just as it started to drizzle so didn’t do bad at all!

They have a motorbike gathering on Tuesday nights at Poole Quay if that’s your thing…